Dental Wellness Strategies – Part One

Well, here we are at the start of the New Year and how about we put our best foot forward…What I mean by this is in what way can we help ourselves to feel better, both inside and out…Of course I will suggest certain dental strategies to do so.

1) Start the New Year off with a new toothbrush!

Can it get any easier than this? Generally, we replace our tooth brush when the bristles become frayed. How often this occurs will depend on how aggressive one is with their brushing. It is suggested to replace your toothbrush every three months. After rinsing your toothbrush, store it upright. This way it will air dry and if upright less bacteria will accumulate on the bristles.

2) Cut down on snacks that are loaded with sugar and acidic drinks.

Pop drinks can be quite acidic which can lead to erosion of the teeth over time. This increase in wear can add up over the years. For a refresher on the subject of erosion, please read the blog “Dental Erosion and How to Treat it” posted on September 2nd, 2013. In addition, the abundance of sugar in soft drinks can increase the likelihood of getting cavities and lead to health issues such as diabetes and weight gain. How about healthy snacks such as fruits and vegetables i.e. apples and celery. In addition, dairy such as milk and cheese are a good source of healthy fat and protein. They also simulate salivary flow which can help to keep your teeth clean.

3) De-Stress – Obvious wellness suggestion.

Stress can affect your health i.e. increased blood pressure and cause heart problems. The not so obvious is that stress can affect your oral health. Increased stress can lead to teeth grinding, also known as bruxism; this can result in worn teeth, receding gums and also fractured and loose teeth. We briefly touched on bruxism in the blog “Abfraction… Another Type of Dental Wear,” posted on October 1st, 2013. We will devote more time to the subject of Bruxism in a future blog. In addition, stress can lower one’s immunity and increase your chances of getting an infection. This includes bacteria that cause gum disease.

In life… Do whatever you need to do to de-stress: This may be a good time to read my first blog, “Dental Wellness,” posted on July 22nd’ 2011.

In the next blog we will discuss other dental related ways to help you feel good…until then.

Dr. Robert Axelrad, Brampton Dentist

Dental Wellness Strategies – Part One was last modified: January 22nd, 2016